While Michigan law does not prohibit dogs from being left outside in the cold, state law requires that all dogs who spend time outside have access to adequate shelter, fresh water, and dry bedding. (Photo from Pxhere.com)
The weather is turning colder and before it does, the Kent County Animal Shelter is reminding residents to make sure their pets have appropriate shelter.
While Michigan law does not prohibit dogs from being left outside in the cold, state law does require that all dogs who spend time outside have access to adequate shelter, fresh water, and dry bedding. The statute also stipulates separate shelter requirements for livestock.
“The best place for our pets is in our home but we know that is now always possible,” said KCAS Director Angela Hollinshead. KCAS is working in collaboration with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division to remind residents of the special care their pet needs during the cold weather. “We encourage all pet owners to take appropriate steps to protect those animals that may be left outside for long stretches of time.
“Many pets are not equipment to handle the effects of cold temperatures so we want to remind pet owners of their responsibilities to care for them during the winter.”
A few of the cold weather requirements in state statute include:
Maintain adequate shelter, which can be one or more of the following:
Inside the owners’ home
An enclosure or shelter with at least three sides and a roof that is appropriate for the size and breed of the dog.
A structure, including a garage, barn or shed, that is sufficiently insulated and ventilated to protect the dog from exposure to extreme temperatures, or if not sufficiently insulated and ventilated, contains a doghouse inside the structure.
Structures or natural features such as trees or topography for livestock
Provide dry bedding, such as straw when the temperature is or predicated to be below freezing. Avoid using blankets or cloth bedding as these materials will likely get wet and freeze.
Provide water that is safe to drink and suitable for age and species of the animal. Owners are encouraged to check every few hours to ensure the water is not frozen.
Although Michigan law does not directly address free-roaming cats, the KCAS encourages residents to also be mindful of their needs. Cats are typically well adapted for living in colder climates but they greatly benefit from having access to a shelter. Simple cat shelters made from a storage tote lined with foam and stuffed with straw make great places for cats to escape from the cold.
“It someone suspects an animal is being neglected or is in danger due to cold weather, we encourage them to contact Animal Control,” said KCSO Lt. John DeGroot. “The KCSO is prepared to investigate all reports of animal neglected throughout the winter.”
All reports of animals being kept outside for an extended period without adequate shelter, water, and bedding should be reported to Animal Control at 616-632-7310.
“Michigan winters are certainly beautiful but an be dangerous fo some animals if they do not have appropriate resources,” Hollinshead said. “If you cannot keep your pet indoors and need resources, please call the KCAS to see how e can help.”
As temperatures in Northern Michigan are cooling down, Paddle Antrim warns paddlers to take precautions to protect themselves from heightened dangers of sudden, unexpected cold water immersion while on late season paddling outings.
“Whenever paddlers are out on the water, they should dress with the assumption they may end up in the water,” said Paddle Antrim Executive Director Deana Jerdee. “With the cooler weather, water temperatures have dropped and therefore a wetsuit or a full immersion drysuit with insulating layers is necessary.”
Sudden immersion in cold water can cause gasping and inhalation of water resulting in drowning and time spent in cold water will cause your body to lose, resulting in unconsciousness, and/or swimming failure as muscles become numb. Wearing a life jacket may keep your head above water and support your body should your swimming ability fail or you become unconscious.
In 2020 the US Coast Guard reported 271 canoe/kayak injuries or deaths (2020 Recreational Boating Statistics, US Coast Guard) accidents and of all the casualties that resulted in deaths, 79% of those who died were not wearing a life jacket. Of the casualties that didn’t result in death, hypothermia was the leading cause of injury. “Death and injury in kayaks or canoes are almost completely avoidable if a properly fitting PFD and cold water gear is worn,” said Jerdee. “Paddling is like any other sport – you need to wear the proper gear and have the proper skills to safely participate, especially during the colder months when the lower water temperatures can be extremely dangerous.”
Should you ever find yourself in the water it is recommended that you stay with – and preferably on top of – your boat. Never overestimate your swimming ability. All too often people underestimate the distance to shore or the effects of cold water and unfortunately drown while attempting to make it to safety.
Paddle Antrim makes the following recommendations to paddlers heading out on the water:
Always wear a properly fitted life jacket. Simply stated, life jackets save lives;
Dress for the water temperature;
Avoid boating alone and always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. Have a cell phone or VHF radio accessible, in a watertight bag, should you need to call for help;
Carry essential safety gear, signaling devices and whistles; and
LANSING – Two pieces of legislation are churning Michigan’s political waters with different approaches to beach safety in state parks.
One would stop the Department of Natural Resources from enforcing temporary swim bans when water and current conditions are dangerous. It is sponsored by Reps. Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, and Bradley Slagh, R-Zeeland.
It is a response to a proposed order by the DNR that would allow the agency to restrict beach access in times of dangerous water conditions, during water rescues and in the presence of bacteria or contaminants.
Meerman said the bill is necessary to curb government overreach.
“I appreciate the government and all that it does to help us organize ourselves, but there’s a limit to it,” Meerman said. “For me, this is past that limit.”
The DNR’s proposed order defines dangerous conditions as waves higher than 3 to 5 feet. Currently, many state parks use flags — green equals go, yellow means caution and red warns visitors to stay out of the water. But people are not required to heed the warnings.
Meerman said the red flag system should be kept as is.
Beach flag warning system signage at Mears State Park. (Photo by Department of Natural Resources)
“Government doesn’t need to be involved in physically keeping people out and giving out fines,” Meerman said. “I think the red flag itself is what we need.”
The DNR doesn’t yet have a position on Meerman’s bill because of its recent introduction, according to Ed Golder, a public information officer for the DNR.
The agency’s authority on the beaches is land based, so enforcement isn’t currently possible once a person enters the water. Golder said the DNR’s order would help promote beach safety.
“The fundamental purpose of the land use order on beach access is to protect human safety when conditions demand it,” Golder said. “Having this authority would give us one more tool to help prevent drownings on the Great Lakes on beaches that the DNR manages.”
The DNR said safety rescues often occur during red flag conditions, meaning state park visitors are disregarding safety measures.
But critics say the flags often do not reflect conditions and are not updated frequently enough.
“A DNR officer might go to a state park beach at 7 a.m. when the water is flat, so they put up a green flag,” said Dave Benjamin, the executive director of public relations and project management for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. “And they might not come back until noon.
“During that time, the conditions could go from green to yellow to red, but the flag still says green,” he said.
There have been 83 Great Lakes drownings in 2021, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Of those, 38 were located in Lake Michigan, 11 in Lake Huron and four in Lake Superior.
Benjamin said the DNR isn’t placing designated officers at every beach, and the lack of enforcement is one reason behind drownings.
“When a drowning would happen, the DNR’s No. 1 comment to the media was that red flags were flying and people ignored the warning,” Benjamin said. “Our response is that red flags were not enforced and there were hundreds of other people in the water.”
The proposed DNR order says that prohibiting access would not be determined by red flag days alone, but by reviewing multiple criteria.
Benjamin said the lack of uniformity causes confusion.
“For some places, a red flag just means high surf. For others, it means no swimming,” Benjamin said. “If it does mean no swimming, there’s no enforcement of it.”
Benjamin said the beach flag system is a tool for lifeguards to use and not a replacement for a lifeguard.
“Lifeguards save lives, and all of this is just wasting time and taxpayers money,” Benjamin said. “Now you’ve got state legislation talking about the flag system, but what they’re really talking about is that it’s being used incorrectly.”
Both pieces of legislation distract from necessary beach safety improvements, he said.
“I appreciate that the DNR is working to create some kind of swim ban during red flag conditions, although it needs some critiquing,” Benjamin said. “But now we have the state legislature that’s going to forbid them from doing anything.
“We need to get everybody on the same page here,” he said.
DNR director Daniel Eichinger announced his intent to sign the order at the last Natural Resources Commission meeting, but has not done so yet, Golder said.
The order would not take effect until next May.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation.
LANSING — Children’s health advocates are pushing to install drinking water filters in Michigan schools and child care centers to protect them from lead poisoning.
The project, named Filter First, would provide schools with filtration stations that reduce lead in drinking water instead of requiring the costlier periodical testing of water for lead.
The move could cost about $55 million in the first year, said Charlotte Jameson, a water policy program director for the Michigan Environmental Council.
That’s still cheaper than the “test and tell” method that includes testing of all drinking water fixtures and then replacing those that test positive for lead above a set action level, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council and Safe Water Engineering.
Estimating the cost of two approaches to protecting children from water contaminated by lead. Chart by Natural Resources Defense Council and Safe Water Engineering.
The testing strategy costs about $81 million a year and doesn’t guarantee clean water because lead releases from time to time, Jameson said.
“One school did the testing regime just on their own.” she said. “They got a sample from the water fountain that didn’t contain any lead. Then they went back a month later and tested that same water fountain and it had a very high lead release.”
Other states following the testing approach spend a lot of money going out to test the water in schools, Jameson said.
“We have seen other states doing tests and we learned from them,” she said.
Test and tell is used in 24 states, according to Governing, a publication that reports on and analyzes state policy.
It is expensive and doesn’t guarantee clean water, Jameson said. Filtration is cheaper and provides water free from lead.
The “test and tell” method requires constant testing and money for sampling, analyzing and replacement fixtures with high levels of lead.
Test and tell is a technique that would cost $497 million for Michigan in the first 10 years. That’s much more than the $166 million for filtration strategy even though it requires ongoing costs that include replacing the unit’s filters and sampling water to verify performance, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council and Safe Water Engineering.
“Schools and day cares are meant to be places for children to thrive,” said Becca Maher, the director of strategic campaigns at the Michigan Environmental Council. “But when lead, a harmful neurotoxin, gets into the drinking water of these institutions leached from plumbing, fixtures, and fittings, it presents a grave risk to the development of young bodies and minds.”
It’s unclear how many schools have a lead problem, Maher said. “But given the age of our school building stock and the fact that even fixtures labeled “lead free” still have lead in them, we expect all Michigan schools are at risk of lead leaching into drinking water.”
And the threat is significant, experts say.
“There is no acceptable level of lead for children,” said Larissa Miller, the associate executive director of Nursing and Government Affairs for the Michigan Nurses Association. “Any level of lead exposure is unsafe. Any exposure to lead can cause hearing loss, slow development of teeth and bones.
“Also, it can cause anemia and that’s a lack of adequate hemoglobin,” she said. “That means that kids may not have the oxygen they need to physically run or play or participate in childhood activities. With lead exposure the impacts are permanent and they are lifelong and can’t be reversed.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee is considering appropriating $85 million next year for grants to install filters. A package of bills was introduced in the Senate to regulate drinking water standards and filter use in schools and day cares.
If bills pass the legislative process next year, schools will have filtration stations installed by the 2025 school year, Jameson said.
A biologist sampling for aquatic insects. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy staff sampled 741 locations over the summer of 2020. Credit: Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Quality. (Supplied)
By McCoy Scribner Capital News Service
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy is assessing the state’s water quality, something that’s necessary in a state that’s rich in water resources.
The department is conducting its annual surface water sampling to protect human health and aquatic life and to maintain suitability for recreation.
Water sampling is done at locations across the state. But certain locations are trend sites. This means staff will return in consecutive years to understand what long-term developments look like.
Kevin Goodwin is an integrated report specialist for water assessment with Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. He says the department samples for a variety of reasons.
“Things like bacteria levels, E. coli for concerns for human health, to fish contaminants looking at whether or not folks can eat fish safely in the state, to looking at insects and other fish communities to see what the ecosystem looks like and a host of other things,” Goodwin said.
Sampling takes place in rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.
In 2020, the staff sampled:
151 macroinvertebrate sites
73 water chemistry monitoring sites
31 harmful algal bloom monitoring sites
123 E. coli monitoring sites
48 fish contaminant monitoring sites
287 PFAS surface water sampling sites
7 sediment sampling projects
9 river nutrient expression sampling sites
12 lake nutrient expression sampling sites
Goodwin says the team has a process where it asks for input on where staff should go and what problems there might be.
“That’s kind of a targeted approach. We can pick places that we or others have an interest or concern and we can look there. Then we’ve got other programs that we’re just kind of broadly moving around the state just to kind of keep general tabs of what’s going [on].”
Results start becoming available in the fall through the winter. The timing depends on how long it takes to get the lab results entered into various databases, quality-checked and then analyzed.
McKoy’s story is brought to you as part of a partnership between WKAR and Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.
Marge Wilson remembers watching a woman make the sign of the cross just before putting a cup underneath a fountain to get water.
Clean water is an essential need in many third world countries. Polluted water isn’t just dirty, it’s deadly, according to the Koshland Science Museum. Some 1.8 million people die every year of diarrheal diseases like cholera because they drink dirty water. Tens of millions of others are seriously sickened by a host of water-related ailments, many of which are preventable if these people had access to clean drinking water.
It is why Wilson, the owner of Marge’s Donut Den, in 2012 decided to start the Samual Omogo Foundation, which is dedicated to building water wells in villages in Southeastern Nigeria. The foundation is named after Samuel Omogo, a Nigerian man who dedicated his life to improving the lives of people in Nigerian villages. He was well known for his philanthropic deeds of visiting the sick, bringing food, clothing and school supplies to those in need.
“I think Samuel is a man who did so much for his people that I am grateful that his children can see all those wells and say ‘Daddy made a difference in everybody’s life,’” Wilson said in an interview for the foundation.
The Samuel Omogo Foundation will be the focus of the next Mr. Sid’s Video Series Thursday, Aug. 11, at 2 p.m. at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW.
“Our Mr. Sid accomplished many things during his lifetime. Maybe what he was most proud of was he and Beulah’s many service trips to support John and Atts Devries and the work of Mission India,” said Tom Sibly, one of the organizers of the Mr. Sid’s Video program. Sid Lenger was a World War II veteran who loved to share his stories and video travelogues. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 100. Friends and family have continued the video series that have expanded to include special events.
Sibley said the Samuel Omogo Foundation seemed a natural extension to Mr. Sid’s passion of helping people.
Father Peter Omogo will be presenting at the Thursday program. Father Peter will talk about the creation of the Samuel Omogo Foundation, it’s work and his journey that has taken him from Nigeria to West Michigan. Coffee and cookies will be provided after the program.
The next event for the Sid’s Video Series will a Mr. Sid’s birthday program on Sept. 8.
Clean water is one the biggest essential needs in many third world countries. (SOF)
Manistee Beach in 2014. A team of Michigan State University researchers is working with volunteers in coastal communities to track erosion in the state. (McCoy Scribner)
Although Great Lakes water levels are down, the risk of coastal erosion remains high, Michigan State University researchers say. Now, the researchers are enlisting “citizen scientists” to assist in helping better understand coastal change.
Funded by a $300,000 early concept grant from the National Science Foundation Coastlines and People Initiative, the Interdisciplinary Citizen-based Coastal REmote Sensing for Adaptive Management (IC-CREAM) project wants to work with multiple communities in the Great Lakes region facing impacts from record-high water levels.
The IC-CREAM team is developing a first-of-its kind citizen science program to equip and train volunteers to pilot drones and use other geospatial technologies to better monitor and understand coastal change and vulnerabilities.
The project, led by Assistant and Associate Professors Erin Bunting, Ethan Theuerkauf and Elizabeth Mack, aims to empower Michigan coastal communities to generate their own data on coastal changes and hazards by taking pictures of what is seen at beaches and uploading them to a web app.
“Take a picture with your phone. That photo has a geotag located, so all you have to do is upload that photo to the web app, and put in some information about like when it was collected, all that kind of stuff, and that helps us document it,” Theuerkauf said.
The team is working with citizen scientists to gather data in Marquette, Manistique, Iosco County, Chikaming Township, Manistee and South Haven.
Theuerkauf said getting scientists, citizens, and community decision-makers to work together is an important step in addressing coastal issues.
“We’re working hand in hand with those communities, we’re working hand in hand with the public, to provide information that we know is useful because we worked with them from the onset to decide what direction we need to take with this data collection and this processing.”
Planning is underway for additional proposals and partnerships with local, state and federal entities to expand project work and research.
This story is brought to you as part of a partnership between WKAR and Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.
As the summer heats up and people begin flocking to Great Lakes beaches, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources urges everyone to keep water and pier safety in mind.
Holding more than 20% of the world’s fresh water, the Great Lakes are large, powerful water systems. These lakes reign supreme for many during warmer months, but they also are prone to dangerous currents that can threaten even the most experienced swimmer. Adverse weather patterns can create dangerous rip and structural currents along piers and breakwalls, too. Crashing waves can create slippery surfaces and conditions strong enough to knock a person into the water.
“The DNR eagerly welcomes millions of visitors to Michigan state parks each summer,” said Sean Mulligan, Holland State Park manager. “Visitors should keep in mind that winds can come up quickly, changing conditions without warning, so always pay attention to the weather. The Great Lakes can become very dangerous, especially when waves get higher than 4 feet.”
Michigan has 20% of the world’s freest water. (Supplied)
Unfortunately, several emergencies and drownings have occurred along the beach and breakwall areas. Many of these incidents happened during red flag days when the wind and waves are strong with greater potential for dangerous rip currents.Of Michigan’s 100-plus state parks, 42 offer access to Great Lakes shoreline.
Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, said the increase in accidents and drownings on the Great Lakes in recent years is especially troubling and clear evidence that greater public awareness is needed. In particular, Grand Haven, Holland, Ludington and Mears state parks are situated in locations where rip currents tend to build and recurring safety hazards are present.
“When it comes to protecting Michigan residents and visitors on the water, especially the Great Lakes, we cannot talk enough about safety, preparation and vigilant awareness,” Olson said.
New safety measures at Holland State Park
Holland State Park, situated along Lake Michigan, is one of Michigan’s most-visited sites and provides the main access to a popular pier that is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. More recently, the DNR and the local community have collaborated on additional ways to alert visitors to changing Great Lakes and pier conditions.
This past fall, Holland State Park staff collaborated with Park Township and The King Company to fund the installation of a gate on the pier adjacent to Holland State Park. The goal is to help save lives by restricting access during harsh weather and to reduce the number of people jumping off the pier, while still allowing people to fish from the pier when feasible. Generally speaking, the gate will be closed during the winter, when the red flags are flying and during night hours when the park is closed.
In addition, an electronic messaging board conveying beach conditions is located where visitors enter Holland State Park, and a new public address system will be used to update beachgoers as the beach warning flags are changed in response to weather conditions. Visitors also can view live beach conditions at CityOfHolland.com/645/MIHollandCAM via livestream video courtesy of the City of Holland and Biggby Coffee. Conditions are posted on the park’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/HollandStateParkMi.
More recently, the DNR and the Holland community have collaborated on additional ways to alert visitors to changing Great Lakes and pier conditions. (Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
River outlets and breakwalls
Dangerous currents can occur near the outlets of rivers and breakwalls, especially during times that water levels are higher.
For example, the mouth of the Big Sable River is located in Ludington State Park, but outside the designated swim area. In the past, swimmers have been swept out into Lake Michigan. This park also has installed an electronic bulletin messaging board at the entrance to the designated beach area to help alert visitors of current conditions.
In addition, swimmers should be aware of particularly dangerous structural currents that form along shoreline structures near breakwalls, such as in Mears State Park.
“When northwest winds appear, water is pushed to the shore causing dangerous currents along the north side of the pier,” said Chris Bush, lead ranger at Mears State Park. “People are often surprised that structures located in the Great Lakes can cause such powerful, and sometimes dangerous, currents.”
Using state park designated swim areas on the Great Lakes
Many, but not all, state parks on the Great Lakes offer designated swimming areas that are identified by buoys or buoys and markers, a beach flag warning system and water depth less than 5 feet at the time of installation. Water depth will be inspected approximately every 14 days and underwater obstacles will be posted or marked. You may also find other designated swim areas in areas other than state parks.
Check the flag upon arrival and be sure to monitor it throughout the day because conditions can change rapidly.
Green flag = Go. Enter the water but stay aware of changing conditions.
Yellow flag = Caution. Watch for dangerous currents and high waves.
Red flag = Stop. Stay on the beach; do not enter the water and do not swim.
There are no beach guards at state parks , so please never swim alone and keep close watch of children. Stay within arm’s reach and make sure all kids wear life jackets.
If there is an emergency, immediately call 911. At Holland and Grand Haven state parks, use the nearest red zone number boards (located on the beach) to help relay your location as accurately as possible.
State park designated swim areas have lifesaving flotation device and equipment. Remember the safety equipment on the beach or pier is for emergency use only; using this equipment for anything else is against the law.
Keep these additional cautions in mind when enjoying time in and around the Great Lakes:
Currents near piers can be extremely hazardous. Pay attention to the buoys marking the designated swim areas; swimming outside of the marked swim zones can be dangerous and should be avoided.
During certain weather conditions, the force of water and waves crashing over the surface can easily wash someone off a structure; always monitor the beach flag warning system.
Before leaving home, learn about the types of Great Lakes currents and how to escape them.
Check local weather reports and lake conditions before and during your beach trip.
Nondesignated swim areas on the Great Lakes
Visitors in areas without designated swim beaches should use extreme caution because they will not have the benefit of the beach flag warning system or the visual cautions of buoys that mark water depth and other obstacles.
More smart safety water tips
When swimming or boating in any body of water – whether the Great Lakes, inland lakes or slow-moving rivers and streams – make safety your first priority. Never swim alone, always keep close watch of children and bring U.S. Coast-Guard-approved life jackets, especially for new and inexperienced swimmers.
When boating, have life jackets available for everyone on the vessel, leave a float plan with someone on shore, stay alert and carry a cell phone or marine radio. Such planning goes for those on personal watercraft like Jet Skis and paddle boards, too. Learn boating safety.
More info
Visit Michigan.gov/BeachSafety to learn about the beach flag warning system, how to escape rip currents and more.
The City of Wyoming has declared a Level Three Water Emergency, due to a water transmission main repair. The repair will temporarily reduce the capacity of the water system making it necessary to institute a Sprinkling Ban. This ban, which includes all outdoor irrigation, begins Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 6 a.m. within all communities served by the City of Wyoming Water System. By following the Sprinkling Ban, water customers will help protect the water system during this emergency repair. The communities included in the Sprinkling Ban are:
Zeeland Township
Park Township
Olive Township
Blendon Township
Holland Township
Georgetown Township
Jamestown Township
Byron Township
Gaines Township
City of Hudsonville
City of Grandville
A part of the City of Kentwood
City of Wyoming
“Water remains safe and drinkable so long as the water pressure is maintained,” says Director of Public Works Myron Erickson, “the emergency repair itself doesn’t impact water quality. However, low system pressure may impact water quality due to cross connections. That’s why it is incredibly important to follow this temporary Sprinkling Ban.”
The emergency repair will take one of the two water transmission mains out of service, reducing the capacity of the water system. Currently, the City of Wyoming water facilities are pumping at maximum rates to meet peak summer demand. With only one water transmission line active, the water system cannot maintain the high water demand caused by summer irrigation. One transmission line can meet the demand of indoor water use. If water system users don’t abide by the Sprinkling Ban, low pressure and low volumes of water are a distinct possibility.
Due to this extreme water emergency, the City of Wyoming will be issuing municipal civil infractions to any violators of the Sprinkling Ban within the City of Wyoming. The Sprinkling Ban will be in effect until further notice.
For more information, visit www.wyomingmi.gov/SprinklingBan or contact the Wyoming Water Office at 616-530-7390 or the Wyoming Water Plant at (616) 399-6511. Residents of the customer communities of the Wyoming Water System may also contact their respective communities’ water office.
Action Water Sports in partnership with Action Wake Park is pleased to announce their new summer camp called Camp Action. Learn water sports behind the boat and at Michigan’s only full size cable wakeboarding facility, Action Wake Park.
“We couldn’t be more excited to launch Camp Action,” Said Jerry Brouwer, Owner, Action Water Sports and Action Wake Park. “With the Covid-19 pandemic changing plans for all, we believe there is no better way to spend summer than out on the water participating in water sports.”
You can participate in Camp Action just for the day or for a full week. The following offerings are available:
● Surf Camp: a wakesurfing experience behind a new MasterCraft surf boat ● Wakeboard Camp: a wakeboarding experience behind a new MasterCraft boat ● Cable Park Camp: a water sports experience at Action Wake Park featuring one day behind a new MasterCraft boat
“Camp Action is perfect for beginners looking to learn or someone looking to fine tune their skills with professional coaching, Said Scot Ferwerda, Proshop Manager, Action Water Sports. “We worked hard to cater the camps for all ages and regardless of ability.”
Camp Action will take place locally in the Grand Rapids area on Reeds Lake. Camps begin at $75/day and start the week of June 11. All necessary gear is provided in addition to professional coaching.
Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) invites the public to engage with water through their Going to the Water Summer Stewardship Series. Opportunities to connect with water include social distancing activities and events, a video series, a virtual fundraising water challenge, and programs aboard the ship. Every activity has a stewardship focus to encourage the protection of water.
“Research shows that being on, in, or near water has many benefits,” shared Fred Sitkins, ISEA Executive Director. “The purpose of this series is to engage people with water and, while they are there, take time to reflect on the experience.” Research referenced by Sitkins comes from the book Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols. In his book, Nichols shows how water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success.
Two social distancing activities will take place in June. On June 18 at 10 a.m., families are invited to participate in an in-person Family Water Healer event. A story will be read about a little boy who overcomes his fear of water and participants will be asked to share their personal connection to water through written or visual expression. The event is free, but registration is required as space is limited. The second event is a self-guided Leelanau Trail Water Hunt. Participants walking or biking on the Leelanau Trail can look for answers to water-based clues. Once the clues are solved, a mystery word will be revealed.
In July, the Going to the Water Summer Stewardship Series includes To the Water Challenge, a virtual fundraising event where participants engage with water, reflect on their experience, and share on social media. People can boat, paddleboard, swim, scuba dive, relax, fish, meditate, or do any other activity that is on, in, or near water (e.g., lake, river, pond, fountain, etc.). Registered participants will receive ISEA multifunctional headwear and qualify for awards.
“We believe people care for the things they love,” explained Sitkins when describing the Going to the Water Video Series to be out in July. Local celebrities are being interviewed at the water locations they love and will talk about how they care for that water. “Through all the events in the Going to the Water Stewardship Series, we hope people make the connection that they need to protect the water resources they enjoy.”
ISEA public summer sailing programs aboard the schooner Inland Seas will begin in August. Capacity has been reduced by 50% to accommodate for social distancing and safety protocols will be in place for crew, instructors, and participants. Program content will continue to be the same as pre-COVID-19, but may be delivered slightly different. Tickets are on sale now.
“With the additional time people have by not attending festivals and events, we hope this Series encourages them to get on, in or near water,” said Stephanie Rustem, ISEA Program Coordinator.
Inland Seas Education Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Suttons Bay, Michigan, dedicated to STEM education on the Great Lakes. Its shipboard and shore-side education programs are designed to inspire people of all ages to provide for the long-term stewardship of the Great Lakes. ISEA offers programs to schools, groups, and the public. For further information, contact Inland Seas Education Association at (231) 271-3077 or on the web at www.schoolship.org.
A UCOM staff person checks out the new Hydroz purifying water filing station located in the organization’s lobby. The station is open to the public during business hours. (Supplied)
United Church Outreach Ministry (UCOM) recently partnered with Hydroz to provide a free purified water filing station in its neighborhood. The station, installed last week, is in the lobby at UCOM, at 1311 Chicago Dr. SW Wyoming. It will provide endless hot and cold purified water for those in the UCOM neighborhood.
The purified water filing station will be available to the community during UCOM’s regular hours, Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. Hydroz has generously donated this station for the neighbors to enjoy clean, pure drinking water. Hydroz is a locally owned water purification company, certified by the Better Business Bureau and Local First.
They filter the water using reverse osmosis to remove 98% of impurities from tap water. This includes lead, arsenic, chromium-6, mercury, PFAS, chlorine, and more. Hydroz uses a four-stage filter process to remove impurities from the water and then stores it in a stainless steel holding tank, waiting for neighbors to fill their bottles. The water at UCOM was tested prior to the installation and was found to be within normal range of solid particulates for city drinking water, with just over 130 part per million. However, after the installation, water coming from the system was tested again and had less than 15 parts per million. Also, according to staff, it also tastes great.
UCOM’s Culture of Health recognizes water is the best beverage for healthy living. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that drinking water helps your body regulate your temperature, protect your spinal cord, joints, and other tissues, and helps in all of your bodily functions. Drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages reduces the amount of calories a person takes in and the amount of added sugars. With obesity-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease on the rise, drinking more water is a way to cut those added sugars and lower the risk of developing these diseases, according to the CDC.
In 2018, UCOM hosted neighborhood listening sessions. The UCOM team hoped to learn more about what people in the community enjoyed seeing at UCOM and also find out if there were things the community wanted to see done differently. One topic brought up by several participants was how proud they are of where they live and how sad they are to see empty water bottles or other garbage find its way into the streets, parking lots, and yards of the neighborhood. UCOM hopes that having a refiling station for water bottles will cut down on some plastic waste in the area and improve the beauty of the community we call home.
UCOM invites neighbors to stop in and fill their water bottles and help us thank Hydroz for bringing this service to our neighborhood! Hydroz has a commitment to philanthropy and is proud to give back to this community.
No matter where you are in Michigan, you are never more then six miles from a body of water whether it be a river, a lake or one of the Great Lakes. Also, you are never more than 85 miles from a Great Lake.
With so much water that surrounds us in Michigan, it can be difficult for Michiganders to consider water as a scarce resource, but it is. “..,Worldwide water is going to become and is, in some areas, already a huge political issue,” said Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Dr. Stephanie Ogren.
India made the news this summer what its sixth largest city Chennai faced a water shortage. Chennai is not alone in that Cape Town, South Africa, Mexico City, Cairo, Tokyo, Melbourne, Australia, and London . According to the United Nations, four out of every ten people are affected by water scarcity — the lack of fresh water resources to meet water demand.
Grand Rapids Public Museum Vice President of Science and Education Dr. Stephaine Orgen and Science Curator Dr. Cory Redman talk about they find science entertaining in a recent “Locally Entertaining” podcast.
To help educate area residents about the need to care for the water resources in Michigan, how much water the state has and how clean it is, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has been offer a Saturday Curiosity Lab. According to Ogren, the lab, which also serves as a watershed lab for school programs, is designed to engage the public and students in watershed science.
“The reason behind developing the watershed lab really was to start engaging the public, especially the urban public that we get a lot of visitors here in that discussion around water as a resource and water as a scarce resource,” she said.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the third-floor lab is open to the public. In the Curiosity Lab, there are questions and prompts to help visitors explore more about Michigan’s watersheds. There are also several hands-on activities such as augmented sand box that allows visitors to create different landforms.
“It automatically changes the shape of the contour lines so that we can talk about how landforms are made and how water affects these landforms,” Ogren said.
The Museum also happens to be located right next to the Grand River, which provides many hands-on opportunities to discuss Michigan’s waterways and watersheds.
“So we are able to take groups and students and families down to the river and explore what we see when we pick up a few rocks and turn them over,” Ogren said. “And Really, we just try to peek everyone’s curiosity of what’s in our Grand River and what can we learn from that.”
To learn more about the Curiosity Lab or other programs and exhibits at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, visit grpm.org.
A drop of water can go along way and pick up a lot on its journey. Kentwood’s Valleywood Middle School students learned this while examining what’s in the water from wells in Byron Center, Rockford, Caledonia, Wayland, Kentwood and other area municipalities, as well as in tap water from their schools and homes.
Seventh-graders watched water brought in by science teacher Michael Faber turning colors, testing positive for iron and copper, and indicating pH levels as they shook up vials.
Students identified different minerals present in well versus tap water, noting the “hardness” of well water, and learned about how contaminants can have an identifiable source or come from runoff.
“It’s important we know what’s in the water so we are drinking healthy water,” said seventh-grader Alija Nukisic.
The science lab in Faber’s class provided a glimpse of what’s in area groundwater as students thought about impacts of human water usage and pollution. For World Water Day March 22, they discussed water supplies around the world and its scarcity.
Seven-grader T.J. Scott tests a sample while Saurab Pradhan, behind him, and Adan Moran watch for results.
Water Flows Through Classes
The lab was part of seventh graders’ extensive “Water is Life” study, a project-based learning cross-curricular unit, planned by English teacher Jane Van Hof. Students have also studied the watershed in Africa and read the book, “A Long Walk to Water,” by Linda Sue Park, about the Lost Boys of Sudan. They wrote research papers on “How does human activity influence water sustainability?”
They heard presentations from local experts including John Gorney, city of Kentwood Public Works director; Joanna Allerhand, environmental scientist from Groundswell; and Mike Roon, who is retired from the city of Wyoming and has built water systems in Ecuador.
The study will end with a field trip to the Grand Rapids Public Museum to see the Water’s Extreme Journey exhibit.
Faber’s class discussed contamination and pollution, as seen in Flint with lead and the Rockford area with PFAS recently. Seventh-grader Chad Horrell said it’s important to think about what’s in the water they drink and be aware of pollutants. “It could harm us health-wise and mentally,” he said.
Seventh-grader Amari Taylor pours a water sample into a vial
“What happened in Flint was they had too much lead in their water and that caused people to get sick,” added seventh-grader Natalee Redd.
Students said they found differences in unsoftened well water and tap water when it came to mineral content. “It’s way foggier than tap water,” Chad said.
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
UPDATE: The precautionary boil water advisory for affected areas near Burlingame & 44th has been lifted. Residents are free to use their water as normal.
By City of Wyoming
Due to a drop in pressure in the City of Wyoming water supply, bacterial contamination may have occurred in the water system. Bacteria are generally not harmful and are common throughout our environment. Corrective measures are currently being undertaken to correct the situation.
What should I do?
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and preparing food. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Continue using boiled or bottled water until further notice.
What happened? What is being done?
These precautionary actions are being taken due to the loss of water pressure in the water distribution system caused by a water main break on December 12, 2017. Whenever a water system loses pressure for any significant length of time, precautionary measures are recommended. When a pressure loss occurs, water from inside a building may backflow into the water supply system.
Working in the trenches to restore water pressure
The City is working to get pressure restored, and water staff will be taking other remedial actions such as flushing and collecting bacteriological samples from around the system. The samples will be collected to determine that the water quality meets the state drinking water standards. We will inform you when tests show no bacteria and you no longer need to boil your water. If all goes well, water pressure should be restored by the end of the day today. Bacteriological test results should be available by the end of the day tomorrow. When water is restored, please remove your aerators and flush your water outlets for a minimum of 5 minutes.
This boil water notice shall remain in effect until results from the sampling verify the water is safe to drink. Customers will be advised when the boil water advisory has been lifted.
For more information, please contact Jaime Fleming, Laboratory Manager with the City of Wyoming at 616.261.3572. Please communicate as necessary with other people who may drink this water
After conducting an annual rate study and holding a 20-day public comment period, the Grand Rapids City Commission has set the water and sewer rates for 2017.
Because a portion of the Kentwood system is owned and maintained by the City of Grand Rapids (generally east of Breton Avenue), Kentwood residential customers will see some very slight changes in their quarterly water/sewer bills.
“The average residential customer will actually see a very slight overall decrease of 0.21% in their quarterly water/sewer bill for 2017,” said Tim Bradshaw, Director of Engineering & Inspections with the City of Kentwood.
The approximate changes to quarterly billing for the average customer are as follows:
Water: $2.15 (2.59 percent increase)
Sewer: ($2.46) (3.71 percent decrease)
There were no significant upgrades to the system, and Kentwood experienced minor growth via commercial and residential development.
“The main driver for the increase in the water rate is the need for the City of Grand Rapids to maintain a debt service coverage ratio of 1.2 to maintain their AA bonding status,” explained Bradshaw.
At a recent December workshop, residents along Wing Avenue got a little bit of good news — the city would defer most of the costs for public utilities.
In November, the Kentwood City Commission approved an amendment allowing for a farmhouse exemption with a property owner only having to pay the first 125 feet of frontage for installation of water and sewer. The rest would be deferred if the parcel were split in the future.
“Currently, many of these homes along Wing Avenue were looking at upwards to $90,000 to hook up,” aid Kentwood City Engineer Tim Bradshaw. “It brought the cost of hooking up to sewer and water down to a more reasonable price and made it comparable to having a well or septic.”
It was noted at a Dec. 5 workshop that based on City of Grand Rapids’s current rates, the connection costs for a 125-foot frontage would be about $17,050 for sewer and $15,975 for water. Those costs are only paid upon connection. According to Building Advisor, the cost of installing water and septic can be $20,000 or more.
Another cost concern was that of sidewalk and storm sewer construction. The City Commission also recently amended the city policy to no longer assess for those items if the improvements are included in the final design of Wing Avenue. Residents, however; would be required to maintain the sidewalks running along their property.
Wing Avenue at 60th Street
Bradshaw said at the recent workshop, residents seemed to respond well to the changes since it did reduce some of the cost concerns, however; there are still several other issues residents have including keeping the natural feel and look of the road. Impact on the trees and the natural features lead several residents to petition the city to consider designating Wing Avenue from 52nd Street to 60th Street as a Natural Beauty Road in accordance to the guidelines established by the state legislature in 1995.
Michigan’s Natural Beauty Road Act is designed to identify and preserve certain county-local roads that have unusual or outstanding natural beauty by virtue of native vegetation or the natural features. There are 34 roads in Kent County with the designation, none of which are in Kentwood.
There are several requirements including that the speed be not more than 35 mph. Wing Avenue’s current speed limit — which is determined by a Michigan State Law — is 40 mph.
The designation would not prevent tree removal when necessary for the safety and protection of the traveling public and vehicles, including improvements to the roadway and for public utility construction crossing Wing Avenue. Tree removal would not be allowed for construction of public utility alongside the road.
The Kentwood City Commission will consider the Natural Beauty Road petition at its Feb. 7 meeting. This is after the presentation by the consulting firm Fleis & VandenBrink on its final corridor study which is scheduled for Jan. 17. Fleis & VandenBrink have been tasked to study several items including public utility planning, road construction, and non-motorized needs such as sidewalk, bike lanes, etc.
At the December workshop, the consulting company indicated it would likely recommend the construction of 11-foot lanes striped at 10 feet for safety, better speed control, reduce cost and reduce tree impact over the standard 12-foot width. Also, it was indicated to use the speed of 40 mph to improve sight distances. The firm was still reviewing curb versus ditches and sidewalks/non-motorized trails.
The City Commission is expected to make a final decision on the Wing Avenue plans at its Feb. 21 meeting. Once the final scope has been determined, engineering and design work will begin. Bradshaw said the city has targeted the spring of 2018 to start construction.
